Signal for mail-boxes.



M. F. WBLGH.

SIGNAL FOB. MAIL BOXES.

nruoumu rum) NOV.16, 1910.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

[NI/ENTOR WITNESSES.- Jvr. F. W h

I All OLUMBIA PLANOORAFP'I CO" WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED srarp s rgrnnr OFFICE.

MARION F. WELCH, 0F HOLLIS, KANSAS.

SIGNAL FOR MAIL-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Application filed November 15, 1910. Serial No. 592,424.

of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail boxes, and more particularly to the class of mail boxes shown in my former Patent No. 965,426, and my object is to provide a target at the end of the box mounted on a horizontal spindle which projects through the end of the box and special means inside the box, and connected to the cover to operate the signal when the cover is raised.

With these objects in View, the invention consists in the improved details of construction hereinafter described and afterward specifically claimed.

111 the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this application, Figure 1 is a sectional view as seen on line 33, Fig. 2, and, Fig. 2 is a sectional view as seen on line 44, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates the mail box, which may be constructed in any preferred manner and having an upwardly swinging cover 2, which is hinged to the rear top edge of the box. Extending transversely through one end of the box is a shaft 8, on which is fixed a target or signal 4, said target being preferably formed of a flat piece of metal and having ears 5 through which the shaft 3 extends. The outer end of the shaft 3 is threaded to receive locking nuts 6 to lock the target in fixed position on the shaft, while the inner end of the shaft is provided with a head 7 that portion of the shaft adjacent the head being preferably square in cross sect-ion. Mounted upon the squared portion 8 of the shaft is a drum 9, which is also square in cross section, said drum having flanges 10 at each end thereof, which flanges project beyond the edge of the drum.

The drum, shaft and target are rotated by attaching to the cover 2 a loop 11, which loop is preferably formed from a single section of wire, the free ends of the wire being introduced through an opening 12 in the cover and then bent at right angles to each other. The space between the alinin sections of the loop is less than the wit th of the drum and in order to rotate the drum with the raising of the cover, one edge of the loop is provided with an offset portion 13, thus forming shoulders 14 and 15 at op posite ends of the offset portion. The offset portion is so formed that one edge of the drum will be seated therein when the cover is in its closed position, the shoulders 14 and 15 holding the drum against casual rotation or until such time as the cover is again elevated. As the cover is thrown upwardly the shoulder 14 will engage one face of the drum and cause said drum to rotate one quarter of a revolution and as the loop is constructed of spring metal the tension thereof will hold the drum against rotation farther than one quarter of a revolution until such time as the cover is again lowered and raised.

The faces of the target are preferably provided with different colors, one color serving to notify the patron that mail has been placed in the box and the other to notify the carrier that there is mail matter to be removed from the box. If the signal is set to notify the carrier that there is mail to be removed from the box, upon the carrier raising the cover to remove the mail matter the target will be turned a quarter of a turn, or to a horizontal position, and if there is no mail placed in the box by the carrier, the cover is closed and locked in the usual manner, thereby leaving the signal set in a horizontal position. Should, however, the carrier place mail in the box, it will be necessary for the carrier to close the cover and again raise the same until the target is properly set to notify the patron that the mail has been placed in the box. In the same manner when the patron removes the mail from the box the target will be turned to a horizontal position and left in this position until such time as mail matter has been placed in the box for the carrier when the target is set in the proper manner, as before described.

This device can be very cheaply constructed and can be attached to any form of mail box having an upwardly swinging cover. It will likewise be seen that by placing the drum and loop for operating the same on the inside of the box it will be protected at all times from the inclemency of the weather, and, it will likewise be seen that by' positively rotated when the cover is ele-V vated.

What I claim is: Y

A mail box signal comprising a horizontal shaft ournaled in a wall of the mail box and having a plate secured thereto and a prismatic member carried on the inner end thereof an elongated loop of springy material encompassing the prismatic member and adapted to hold the samein one of several alternative positions, said loop having a widened portion in which the prismatic ered thereby and to effect engagement of I the shoulder with a corner of the prismatic member for rotating the shaft when the cover is raised.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARION F. VELCH. Vitnesses O. L. CoormAN, V. O. BOWERSOX.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

